Raikkonen: We could have been much faster

Kimi Raikkonen says he rues not being able to pose more of a threat during the Australian Grand Prix compared to his race winning Ferrari team-mate Sebastian Vettel, but expects to be more competitive for this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix.

Though Ferrari confirmed its rapid pre-season pace when Vettel got the better of Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas in Melbourne, Raikkonen trailed a fairly distant fourth as he battled handling issues.

Frustrated to end up 22secs shy of Vettel out front but pleased to get solid points on the board from the off, Raikkonen says he expects to be more competitive at the Shanghai International Circuit.

“I think we learned a lot, we understand quite a bit, but everything came a bit late. We didn't get a very good result but comparing to the last few years it was far from a disaster. We had some difficulties, we knew afterwards we could have been much faster, but as a team we did a pretty solid, job, we got some points, but now it's a new place, so let's see.”

With Vettel still identifying Mercedes as having the edge over Ferrari this weekend, Raikkonen says it is too early judge whether Ferrari's pace is fundamental, particularly with the inclement weather predicted.

“It could be good, we have a pretty good package, I've got a good feeling in the car in every place we've been, but there's no point in try to guess how it's going to go or not. Let's see over the weekend and on Sunday it will be all clear.

“We have new wet tyres here, so it's a bit unknown but it's the same for everyone. Usually when a car is good in the dry it's not too bad in the wet either. Let's wait and see, but I think we should be pretty OK in any conditions.”

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